Bruins Double up Wilderness, Extend Point Streak to Five

CLOQUET, MN – In a back and fourth affair on Friday night at Northwoods Credit Union Arena, the Bruins topped the Minnesota Wilderness, 4-2, extending their point streak to five and winning for the fourth time in five games.

The Bruins scored on the opening shift of the game for a 1-0 lead when Alex Mella skated down to the right wing corner and spotted Benito Posa at the back post for a tap-in, Posa’s fifth goal of the season. The Bruins killed off a major elbowing penalty to Devon Fields and held a 1-0 lead, despite a 14-5 shot disadvantage through one period.

The Wilderness came out strong in the second and Kosta Likourezos tied the game at 3:20 with a wrister in the slot. The score remained 1-1 until the 10:23 mark when Nikolai Lyssogor’s power play goal gave the Wilderness their first lead. The turning point of the game came late in the period when Andy Willis deflected DeVon Fields’ shot at 15:54, followed quickly by a Dan Petrick power play one-timer to swing the lead back in the Bruins favor. They led 3-2 after two.

The third period was a defensive battle and Mads Sogaard continued a strong game to keep the Bruins up by one. With exactly one minute remaining, Travis Kothenbeutel found the empty net to seal the game. Sogaard stopped 28 for his 5th win while Trevor Micucci took the loss, making 17 saves.

The Bruins will return home Saturday night at 7:05 looking for a sweep of the Wilderness. It’s Albert Lea Youth Hockey Night – free admission for all ALYH players with a paid adult.